Sunday, September 30, 2007

2008 Jaguar XJ-Series Review

The 2008 Jaguar XJ series sails into this model year still the flagship of the Jaguar marque, but with little to differentiate it from last year's version except for a narrower air dam in the front, which is a better match to the existing rounded grille. As well, there are dedicated fog light ports flanking the air dam, and gills (Jaguar calls them "power vents") have been inserted just in front of the front doors. As with previous models, the XJ features aluminum construction and an air suspension that can automatically lower and balance the car.

Under the hood of the XJ, there's the standard 300 horsepower, 4.2 liter V8 engine providing 310 pounds/feet of torque, or the XJR's supercharged version of the same engine, which offers 400 horsepower and 413 pounds/feet of torque. Either way, there's a six-speed transmission, traction control, and an electronic stability system, with all-disc anti-lock brakes, front- side- and side-curtain airbags rounding out the safety features.

Inside the 2008 Jaguar XJ, there are re-designed front seat-backs that allow additional knee clearance for back-seat passengers, and heated seats have become standard, while cooling for them is optional. Climate control is dual-zone, and the front seats have power adjustability. As well, Bluetooth connectivity that stores information for up to five cell phones has been added to this year's model, and rain-sensing windshield wipers are standard, as are adjustable pedals.

The Jaguar XJ has a 22-gallon gas tank that requires premium unleaded fuel, and offers fuel efficiency that ranges from 15/16 mpg in the city to 22/25 mpg on the highway, depending on the engine in the car.